In September, AMT’s youth program Hacker Scouts was honored to host NPR reporter Jon Kalish at one of our Open Labs. Since he focuses on the DIY movement, Mr. Kalish was curious about how we were serving the next generation of Makers. He seemed particularly interested in our approach of hands-on skill building and the importance we place on autonomy and choice. He observed and interviewed parents and kids, and finally we get to hear the result!

His story about the Hacker Scouts, the web site diy.org and merit badges for young makers will air on “Spark” this weekend. Listen here:

You can pick your friends. You can pick your beer. But can you pick... a Lock?

Join us on Tuesday, November 20th, from 7-9pm at Ace Monster Toys, as we embark on an ancient mechanical adventure to explore the inner workings of a modern lock, first developed by the Mesopotamians and Egyptians over 4000 years ago. Led by lockpicker Eric Michaud, this workshop will cover - soup to nuts - everything you need to know about how common locks work... and how to pick them open.

Whether you're a complete novice curious to find out what pin-tumbler really means, a homeowner protecting your family's treasures, or a veteran lockpicker with questions about advanced locks and techniques, this event is for you! With 2 solid hours of history, mechanical diagrams ("lock pr0n"), and hands-on lockpicking instruction... first we'll open your minds, and then we'll open some locks!

To properly learn this ancient art, you will need the proper tools. By registering for a ticket with a lockpick set, this guarantees you a seat at the workshop, and reserves - all for you - a brand-new 10-piece custom lockpick set made entirely in the USA, hand-picked by College of Lockpicking faculty to maximize utility for beginners and locksport enthusiasts alike, and offered for only $30. If you already have some picks you're itching to practice with, you can bring them along and your workshop cost is only $30!

We had a treat last night as Camdax came over for a visit, bringing his homemade Tesla Coil! We rocked out as he modulated some Metallica though the coil, reaching bolts 18-24 inches long. Check out the photos in our gallery.